Post by Pete70s on Oct 22, 2004 22:35:32 GMT -5
(continued from part 1)
The tracks:
Our Prayer-The only track that historians were able to confirm where it would be placed on the album. "Smile begins with a prayer", Brian said in 1966. It's a short breathtaking accapella piece. The new version uses a brief part of "Gee" by The Crows (part of "Heroes & Villains sections" on the BB Box Set) to segue into:
Heroes & Villains-The new version is a composite of the single version and the "Cantina" version (which was originally slated for Smile). Part 2 (which does not appear on the new Smile), is carefully edited parts of the H&V Sections on the box set.
Roll Plymouth Rock/Do You Like Worms?- The strangest title in the Beach Boys catalogue. No mention of "worms" anywhere. It's mostly instrumental, (The new version has more lyrics written, including the famous "Bicycle Rider" segment). The song paints a musical picture of the "Americana" landscape, from Plymouth Rock, to the treatment of the American Indian, to Hawaii. "Rock, rock, roll, plymouth rock, roll over..." Also contains reprisals of the "Heroes & Villains" melody.
Barnyard- Instrumental in the original version (Brian never got to record the vocals in '67), with vocals on the new version. It's a short piece featuring animal sound effects. "Out in the kitchen, the cook is chopping lumber. Out in the barnyard, the chickens do their number."
The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine- A medley that is about one minute long. "The Old Master Painter" is a very short cello piece. You Are My Sunshine" is a very dark, downbeat reading of the standard, sung in the past tense, in a very melancholy, dissonant voice. "You were my sunshine, my only sunshine. You made me happy when skies were grey, You'll never know dear, how much I loved you. How could you take my sunshine away". Dennis sang lead on the original. I miss hearing his voice on this. One of the reasons why I wish Brian had worked with the original tapes.
She's Goin' Bald (Speeches)- Not used on the new version of Smile. This was another very short "link track". NOT the same as the song that later appeared on "Smiley Smile", (Same melody, different lyric). This is known as the "Speeches" version., because it's about a polititian. The lyric was changed for "Smiley Smile" to be about a girl who was, yes, you guessed, going bald! (Rumor had it that it was a dig at Mike Love, who was rapidly losing his hair..) My version was from a very poor source, and sounds like it's coming out of an old radio, which gives it an added "charm".
Cabin Essence- Another masterpiece, which closes the "Americana"-themed first section.
Wonderful- A beautiful song about the first child born in America. The "female" counterpart to "Child Is Father Of The Man"
Song For Children/Look- Originally an instrumental, vocals were added for the new version, which beautifully segues "Wonderful" and "Child Is Father Of The Man". Listen for pieces of "Good Vibrations"
Child Is Father Of The Man- The "male" counterpart to "Wonderful". My favorite of the songs that were NEVER officially released from the original tapes. The original starts with a clanking, haunting piano and a dissonant French horn. On the new version, this part is at the end of the song. This song will blow your mind, it's that good! Great song to drive to, late at night... And (I never would have imagined this, but) the perfect segue into:
Surf's Up- Brian proved us all wrong again! For years, everyone believed this song would be the closer, but on the new version, it's in the middle (or closer of side 1, if this were vinyl). What more can I say about this song? It's the most beautiful song ever written, and #1 on my all-time favorite song list! Very hard for me to hear the new version and not get teary-eyed. "I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children's song..."
I'm In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop- OK, here's where things get interesting... Over the years NO tape had ever surfaced of a song called "I'm In Great Shape", and many wondered if such a song even existed. Eventually a tape labeled "Friday Night", which contained a brief instrumental piece of "I Wanna Be Around", leading into the sound effect's of a woodshop. THIS was believed to be "I'm In Great Shape", as it was once believed that Brian would have a track to represent "re-building after the fire". This would be the version I would use on MY version of Smile when I compiled it from bootlegs. Then the "Endless Harmony" CD came out in 1998. It contained a rough piano demo of "Heroes & Villains". In the middle of the track , Brian trails off into a song that was, in fact, "I'm In Great Shape". This would turn out to be the final piece of the Smile puzzle.
Vega-Tables- An interesting note about the new Smile album is that there is NO mention of the word "Elements", yet all the intended pieces are there! It's still unknown if this was supposed to represent the "Earth" segment. The cover Capitol printed up in '67 listed "Vega-Tables" as seperate from "The Elements", so it's been widely disputed over the years. So Brian STILL hasn't given us EVERY answer.... Rumored to be Paul McCartney chomping the celery on the original version. It is known that he DID stop by the studio to visit Brian during the "Vega-Tables" session, and to also play Brian a new piece he was working on, "She's Leaving Home".
On A Holiday/Holidays- Another piece that was originally instrumental, with vocals finally recorded. It's AMAZING how much the original and new versions sound EXACTLY alike. If it weren't for the vocals on the new version, I would NEVER be able to tell the two apart, that's how loyal Brian was to re-creating the sound of the originals!
Wind Chimes-The "air" segment of the "Elements". Or was it?
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow- The "fire" segment. After all these years, I'm AMAZED that Brian agreed to re-record this! (I'm STILL looking for an interview with Brian where he adresses this topic). It is, in fact, a TERRIFYING piece of music! It begins with some sinister-sounding caliope music (released on the BB box set as part of "H&V Sections"), THEN the drums kick in, and the plodding bass, and whoosing strings and sirens. Then, on the NEW version, we get vocal harmonies (the same ones that appeared on "Fall Breaks and Back To Winter" on Smiley Smile). The bootleg version had crackling fire sounds dubbed in, perhaps Brian didn't want to "go that far" with the new version.. Let it be known, Brian Wilson invented "Heavy Metal"!!
In Blue Hawaii/I Love To Say Da Da - The "Water" segment. Parts would later surface in "Cool Cool Water". New lyrics added for the new version. In Priore's book, he suggests that "I'm In Great Shape" would follow "Fire", to signify "re-building". I always believed that "Water" would put out the "Fire" first, so the water segment would follow "fire". My friend Joe and I have disputed this to great length. But Brian has proven me right! This is the part of the album where it takes everything I have to keep from bawling my eyes out! Just the fact that we are FINALLY hearing this after all these years, and the beauty of the music we were robbed of all this time, all because Mike Love couldn't get behind what Brian was doing..
A brief reprisal of "Our Prayer" leads into:
Good Vibrations- Another dispute among historians is whether or not he wanted "Good Vibrations" on the album. Capitol put it in BIG letters on the front cover of the original Smile album, because after the "failure" of "Pet Sounds", they wanted it to have a song that was already a hit on it to help boost sales. But it was believed that Brian wanted Smile to stand apart from "Good Vibrations". Now we know that he DID intend to use it. HOWEVER, on the new version, he uses the ORIGINAL lyrics! (Probably so he doesn't have to give Mike Love any writing credit.. Take THAT, "Doctor of Love"!)
So there you have it... But don't take MY word for it.. Go to www.smilethealbum.com/index.php and listen to the entire album for FREE! Judge for yourself! THEN try to say the Beach Boys are all about surfing and hot rods....
Damn, I wish my Media Crit paper was as easy to write....
#nosmileys#nosmileys#nosmileys#nosmileys
The tracks:
Our Prayer-The only track that historians were able to confirm where it would be placed on the album. "Smile begins with a prayer", Brian said in 1966. It's a short breathtaking accapella piece. The new version uses a brief part of "Gee" by The Crows (part of "Heroes & Villains sections" on the BB Box Set) to segue into:
Heroes & Villains-The new version is a composite of the single version and the "Cantina" version (which was originally slated for Smile). Part 2 (which does not appear on the new Smile), is carefully edited parts of the H&V Sections on the box set.
Roll Plymouth Rock/Do You Like Worms?- The strangest title in the Beach Boys catalogue. No mention of "worms" anywhere. It's mostly instrumental, (The new version has more lyrics written, including the famous "Bicycle Rider" segment). The song paints a musical picture of the "Americana" landscape, from Plymouth Rock, to the treatment of the American Indian, to Hawaii. "Rock, rock, roll, plymouth rock, roll over..." Also contains reprisals of the "Heroes & Villains" melody.
Barnyard- Instrumental in the original version (Brian never got to record the vocals in '67), with vocals on the new version. It's a short piece featuring animal sound effects. "Out in the kitchen, the cook is chopping lumber. Out in the barnyard, the chickens do their number."
The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine- A medley that is about one minute long. "The Old Master Painter" is a very short cello piece. You Are My Sunshine" is a very dark, downbeat reading of the standard, sung in the past tense, in a very melancholy, dissonant voice. "You were my sunshine, my only sunshine. You made me happy when skies were grey, You'll never know dear, how much I loved you. How could you take my sunshine away". Dennis sang lead on the original. I miss hearing his voice on this. One of the reasons why I wish Brian had worked with the original tapes.
She's Goin' Bald (Speeches)- Not used on the new version of Smile. This was another very short "link track". NOT the same as the song that later appeared on "Smiley Smile", (Same melody, different lyric). This is known as the "Speeches" version., because it's about a polititian. The lyric was changed for "Smiley Smile" to be about a girl who was, yes, you guessed, going bald! (Rumor had it that it was a dig at Mike Love, who was rapidly losing his hair..) My version was from a very poor source, and sounds like it's coming out of an old radio, which gives it an added "charm".
Cabin Essence- Another masterpiece, which closes the "Americana"-themed first section.
Wonderful- A beautiful song about the first child born in America. The "female" counterpart to "Child Is Father Of The Man"
Song For Children/Look- Originally an instrumental, vocals were added for the new version, which beautifully segues "Wonderful" and "Child Is Father Of The Man". Listen for pieces of "Good Vibrations"
Child Is Father Of The Man- The "male" counterpart to "Wonderful". My favorite of the songs that were NEVER officially released from the original tapes. The original starts with a clanking, haunting piano and a dissonant French horn. On the new version, this part is at the end of the song. This song will blow your mind, it's that good! Great song to drive to, late at night... And (I never would have imagined this, but) the perfect segue into:
Surf's Up- Brian proved us all wrong again! For years, everyone believed this song would be the closer, but on the new version, it's in the middle (or closer of side 1, if this were vinyl). What more can I say about this song? It's the most beautiful song ever written, and #1 on my all-time favorite song list! Very hard for me to hear the new version and not get teary-eyed. "I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children's song..."
I'm In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop- OK, here's where things get interesting... Over the years NO tape had ever surfaced of a song called "I'm In Great Shape", and many wondered if such a song even existed. Eventually a tape labeled "Friday Night", which contained a brief instrumental piece of "I Wanna Be Around", leading into the sound effect's of a woodshop. THIS was believed to be "I'm In Great Shape", as it was once believed that Brian would have a track to represent "re-building after the fire". This would be the version I would use on MY version of Smile when I compiled it from bootlegs. Then the "Endless Harmony" CD came out in 1998. It contained a rough piano demo of "Heroes & Villains". In the middle of the track , Brian trails off into a song that was, in fact, "I'm In Great Shape". This would turn out to be the final piece of the Smile puzzle.
Vega-Tables- An interesting note about the new Smile album is that there is NO mention of the word "Elements", yet all the intended pieces are there! It's still unknown if this was supposed to represent the "Earth" segment. The cover Capitol printed up in '67 listed "Vega-Tables" as seperate from "The Elements", so it's been widely disputed over the years. So Brian STILL hasn't given us EVERY answer.... Rumored to be Paul McCartney chomping the celery on the original version. It is known that he DID stop by the studio to visit Brian during the "Vega-Tables" session, and to also play Brian a new piece he was working on, "She's Leaving Home".
On A Holiday/Holidays- Another piece that was originally instrumental, with vocals finally recorded. It's AMAZING how much the original and new versions sound EXACTLY alike. If it weren't for the vocals on the new version, I would NEVER be able to tell the two apart, that's how loyal Brian was to re-creating the sound of the originals!
Wind Chimes-The "air" segment of the "Elements". Or was it?
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow- The "fire" segment. After all these years, I'm AMAZED that Brian agreed to re-record this! (I'm STILL looking for an interview with Brian where he adresses this topic). It is, in fact, a TERRIFYING piece of music! It begins with some sinister-sounding caliope music (released on the BB box set as part of "H&V Sections"), THEN the drums kick in, and the plodding bass, and whoosing strings and sirens. Then, on the NEW version, we get vocal harmonies (the same ones that appeared on "Fall Breaks and Back To Winter" on Smiley Smile). The bootleg version had crackling fire sounds dubbed in, perhaps Brian didn't want to "go that far" with the new version.. Let it be known, Brian Wilson invented "Heavy Metal"!!
In Blue Hawaii/I Love To Say Da Da - The "Water" segment. Parts would later surface in "Cool Cool Water". New lyrics added for the new version. In Priore's book, he suggests that "I'm In Great Shape" would follow "Fire", to signify "re-building". I always believed that "Water" would put out the "Fire" first, so the water segment would follow "fire". My friend Joe and I have disputed this to great length. But Brian has proven me right! This is the part of the album where it takes everything I have to keep from bawling my eyes out! Just the fact that we are FINALLY hearing this after all these years, and the beauty of the music we were robbed of all this time, all because Mike Love couldn't get behind what Brian was doing..
A brief reprisal of "Our Prayer" leads into:
Good Vibrations- Another dispute among historians is whether or not he wanted "Good Vibrations" on the album. Capitol put it in BIG letters on the front cover of the original Smile album, because after the "failure" of "Pet Sounds", they wanted it to have a song that was already a hit on it to help boost sales. But it was believed that Brian wanted Smile to stand apart from "Good Vibrations". Now we know that he DID intend to use it. HOWEVER, on the new version, he uses the ORIGINAL lyrics! (Probably so he doesn't have to give Mike Love any writing credit.. Take THAT, "Doctor of Love"!)
So there you have it... But don't take MY word for it.. Go to www.smilethealbum.com/index.php and listen to the entire album for FREE! Judge for yourself! THEN try to say the Beach Boys are all about surfing and hot rods....
Damn, I wish my Media Crit paper was as easy to write....
#nosmileys#nosmileys#nosmileys#nosmileys
